Chapter 28

Jesse

No matter what she did, how hard she tried, or how often she reminded herself that she had work to get done, Jesse could not seem to stop thinking about Hal.

She knew, deep down, that what they had shared was more than just a culmination of spontaneity and too much wine. At least, it was for her.

Jesse shook her head at the mere thought. She tried to focus on her breathing and her heart rate as she pounded the pavement on her morning run. She inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, just as she had been taught however many years ago. Usually, that simple rhythm was enough to keep her calm. This morning, however, that was not the case at all.

Her mind had one sole occupation, and she knew that it was going to prove detrimental to her in one way or another. She dwelled on that foreboding thought as she drew her run to a close and headed back upstairs to her apartment.

Once safely inside her home, Jesse shucked off her sweaty running clothes, tossed her phone on her bed, then got in the shower. She schooled herself to try and focus on what she would do at work that day and to her aggravation, she remembered that she had to finally finish her article on Hal.

Jesse felt her stomach clench as she thought of handing the altogether subpar piece of work to Elaine. She knew that her boss would not be pleased with it and that there would likely be a long talk regarding her future at the company. Jesse only had herself to blame. She had been suckered right into Hal’s touching coming of age story and had made him a promise that she never should have. Now, she had to deal with the consequences.

The thought of the demise of her career served to sober her up quite a bit. Jesse was in a much more morose state of mind as she dressed for work and gathered up all her things, then waited, as usual, for Mark outside of his door after giving it a few knocks. She only vaguely acknowledged his response to her knock.

“Hey, good morning!” Mark greeted her cheerily upon coming out of his door, but his expression fell as he saw the look on Jesse’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to turn in my article to Elaine today,” Jesse said softly, and she saw Mark stiffen.

“Oh,” he said softly.

Silence stretched between them as they made their way down the hall and to the elevator.

“Well,” Mark sighed at length, and Jesse could tell that he was having trouble coming up with words to console her. “I’m sure it’s good even if there is some content shortage …”

“It’s subpar.” Jesse shook her head and ran a hand through her hair. “And Elaine is going to be able to smell that from a mile off.”

Mark gave Jesse a sympathetic glance, and she knew that he knew she was right. The elevator doors opened, and they began their usual trek to work. Mark made to step into their usual coffee shop and held the door open for Jesse.

“You go ahead,” Jesse waved him on. “I’m just going to go ahead to the office.”

“Are you sure?” Mark asked her.

“Yeah,” Jesse nodded and gave him a small smile. “I want to be alone for a while.”

Mark nodded and stepped further into the café.

“I’ll see you at the office,” he said, and Jesse nodded, then went along their usual course.

Her steps were a little slower than usual, as she had the nagging notion that she was approaching her own funeral, or at least the funeral of her career. She was so young. She had hardly gotten the chance to be seen or heard, and it was about to be over with one mediocre article.

She became angry at the cause of her strife. What was it about Hal that had prompted her to throw everything away anyway? She was supposed to interview him, gather up information on him, and then move on with her life. What spell had he managed to cast on her that made her so suddenly a sympathetic friend instead of an ambitious reporter?

She barely had to think those questions before the answers came rushing back to her in the form of Hal’s pained green eyes and the slight downward turn of his lips She remembered the pain in his voice as he spoke of his first love and of losing her.

And as those images came to mind, others followed. She remembered his easy smile after he’d had too much wine and ended up at her house. She remembered the way his eyes smoldered as he had hovered over her last night. He remembered the way his fingertips had felt against her skin and the softness of his lips against her own …

Jesse gasped as she felt a hot pang of desire shoot from her center throughout the rest of her body. She shook her head and tried to rid her mind of those thoughts. It was no wonder she had thrown away the article, she wasn’t sure there was anything she wouldn’t do just for another moment alone with Hal.

Jesse scowled at the thought and had to admit that she felt more than a little insecure, as well. She had little choice but to acknowledge her feelings for Hal. It was incredibly obvious that she was falling for him. After all, he was the very model of male perfection both physically and financially. She was just one of the many women who were fawning all over him.

She, however, had absolutely nothing to offer him. A small part of her tried to protest the self-degrading thoughts, remembering the words he had said to her the previous night, and how he had claimed to arrange the whole evening just so that she would have dinner with him. The more cynical part of her brain, though, was quick to object.

Hal Roberts was good looking, but his brain was sharp as well. She had no doubt that he could manipulate her into wanting him and thinking she was the center of his life, only to drop her in the very next instant. She felt bitterness rise up in her heart toward him, but also a sadness that she could not easily dismiss. In spite of herself, she was growing very fond of him, and she hated that it could only end in heartbreak for her.

As she had gotten lost in her thoughts, though, Jesse had steadily neared her office, and when she saw it looming just ahead on the sidewalk, she felt a sick feeling in her stomach upon remembering the imminent demise of her career. She paused for a moment just before the doors and closed her eyes. She could feel her hands shaking, and she closed them into fists before finally entering the office.

All she could do was get this over with. The sooner she had the article turned in, the sooner Elaine could chew her out, or fire her, or whatever else was her pleasure to do.